A “masterpiece” sci-fi thriller hailed as the best film ever made is streaming for free in the UK. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) is the celebrated follow-up to James Cameron’s 1984 classic The Terminator. The original focuses on a killer robot (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) sent back in time by a malevolent AI to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) whose son John is destined to lead a rebellion against it in a bleak, dystopian future.
The second film sees The Terminator returning as a goodie, having been reprogrammed by the resistance and sent back to protect John, who is now being hunted by an even more powerful, relentless, shape-shifting Skynet android. The film was a box office smash and won four Oscars, including Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Sound, Best Makeup, and Best Visual Effects. Almost 35 years on, fans still marvel at the groundbreaking CGI, performances – and iconic lines.
One fan writing on IMDb said: “This is quite possibly the greatest sequel of all time, with some competition from the Godfather Part II and without a doubt, the best action movie of all time, which easily surpasses the original. There really isn’t much else to add.”
Another wrote: “This is the all time best movie. Forget Citizen Kane or Casablanca. This is the best.”
A third called it a “masterpiece”, a “great sci-fi story, realistic and very well-done”. “The effects are great, the acting is perfect and even the sound effects are so good, and don’t forget the famous soundtrack,” they added.
A fourth said: “There is nothing like this movie. It’s an action film that isn’t boring; a suspense film where you don’t expect one; sci-fi without the silliness.
“Linda Hamilton comes back ripped. All the softness is gone and she is totally convincing (and disturbing) as the ragged-edge neo-terrorist preparing for the apocalypse.”
Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger is “at his best – few lines, none of the smirking – as a robotic, menacing presence”.
They added: “Medium-sized Robert Patrick is perhaps even more menacing, buoyed by state-of-art effects. Joe Morton is the movie’s human soul.”
The movie has a 15 certificate and contains strong violence and language – so viewer discretion is advised.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day is now streaming for free (with ads) on ITVX.